Fluid handling device

Abstract

A fluid handling device and a method for implementing the fluid handling device is provided, wherein the fluid handling device includes a pressure control device configurable to generate at least one of a positive pressure and a negative pressure; and a flow control device having a flow control device output, wherein the flow control device is configurably associated with the pressure control device such that at least one of the positive pressure and the negative pressure is in flow communication with the flow control device output.

1 . A fluid handling device, comprising: 
 a pressure control device configurable to generate at least one of a positive pressure and a negative pressure; and    a flow control device having a flow control device output, wherein said flow control device is configurably associated with said pressure control device such that at least one of said positive pressure and said negative pressure is in flow communication with said flow control device output.    
   
   
       2 . The fluid handling device of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure control device includes a pressure generation device for generating said positive pressure, wherein said pressure generation device is in flow communication with said flow control device via at least one pressure tube.  
   
   
       3 . The fluid handling device of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure control device includes a vacuum generation device for generating said negative pressure, wherein said vacuum generation device is in flow communication with said flow control device via at least one vacuum tube.  
   
   
       4 . The fluid handling device of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure control device is in flow communication with said flow control device via at least one flow tube.  
   
   
       5 . The fluid handling device of  claim 4 , further comprising a pressure monitoring device for monitoring pressure level in at least one of said at least one flow tube and said flow control device output, wherein at least one of said pressure control device and said flow control device is configurable responsive to said pressure level.  
   
   
       6 . The fluid handling device of  claim 1 , wherein said flow control device output is in flow communication with a fluid container via a container flow tube, wherein said fluid container includes a fluid cavity for containing a fluid.  
   
   
       7 . The fluid handling device of  claim 6 , wherein said fluid cavity is sealed such that when said negative pressure is present at said flow control device output, a vacuum is present in said fluid cavity and wherein when said positive pressure is present at said flow control device output, a positive pressure is present in said fluid cavity.  
   
   
       8 . The fluid handling device of  claim 6 , further comprising a pressure monitoring device configured to measuring a pressure level within said fluid cavity, wherein at least one of said pressure control device and said flow control device is configurable responsive to said pressure level.  
   
   
       9 . The fluid handling device of  claim 6 , wherein said fluid container further includes a fluid transfer device in flow communication with said fluid cavity via at least one of a dispensing tube and an assay tube.  
   
   
       10 . The fluid handling device of  claim 9 , wherein when said positive pressure is present in said fluid cavity, fluid disposed within said dispensing tube flows through said dispensing tube away from said fluid cavity.  
   
   
       11 . The fluid handling device of  claim 9 , wherein when said negative pressure is present in said fluid cavity, fluid disposed within said dispensing tube flows through said dispensing tube toward said fluid cavity.  
   
   
       12 . The fluid handling device of  claim 6 , further comprising a fluid transfer device in flow communication with said fluid cavity via a dispensing tube, wherein said fluid transfer device is configured to controllably dispense a fluid contained with said fluid cavity.  
   
   
       13 . A fluid handling device, comprising: 
 a vacuum generation device;    a pressure generation device;    a fluid container having a container cavity; and    a flow controller device, wherein said flow controller device is in flow communication with said pressure generation device, said vacuum generation device and said fluid container and wherein said flow controller device is configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein when said flow controller device is configured into said first configuration, said pressure generation device is in flow communication with said fluid container and wherein when said flow controller device is configured in said second configuration, said vacuum generation device is in flow communication with said fluid container.    
   
   
       14 . The fluid handling device of  claim 13 , wherein when said pressure generation device is in flow communication with said fluid container, a positive pressure is present within said container cavity and wherein when said vacuum generation device is in flow communication with said fluid container a vacuum is present within said fluid container.  
   
   
       15 . A method for implementing a fluid handling device having a pressure control device configurable to generate at least one of a positive pressure and a negative pressure and a flow control device having a flow control device output, wherein the flow control device is configurably associated with the pressure control device such that at least one of the positive pressure and the negative pressure is in flow communication with the flow control device output, the method comprising: 
 operating the pressure control device to generate at least one of the positive pressure and the negative pressure;    configuring the flow control device such that at least one of the positive pressure and the negative pressure is present at the flow control device output.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising monitoring a pressure level generated by the pressure control device and operably configuring at least one of the pressure control device and the flow control device responsive to said pressure level.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising associating the flow control device output with a fluid container having a container cavity, wherein said container cavity is in flow communication with a fluid transfer device via a dispensing tube.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said operating the pressure control device includes generating a positive pressure within said container cavity to cause a fluid contained within said container cavity to flow out of said container cavity and through said dispensing tube toward said fluid transfer device.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said operating the pressure control device includes generating a negative pressure within said container cavity to cause a fluid contained within at least one of said fluid transfer device and said dispensing tube to flow through said dispensing tube into said container cavity.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said configuring includes, 
 associating the flow control device output with an external fluid, and    configuring the flow control device such that a negative pressure is present at the flow control device output, such that said external fluid flows through said dispensing tube.